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The Best Sound Machines on Amazon, According to Hyperenthusiastic Reviewers

If you find yourself tossing and turning for hours or waking up easily after finally drifting to sleep, consider buying a sound machine. To aid your search, we've rounded up the best sound machines and white-noise machines — including small ones for travel and others with night-lights (for kids!) — as praised by the most enthusiastic reviewers on Amazon. And, if you're looking for other things to help get a good night's sleep, we have roundups on the best weighted blankets, bed sheets, and even sleep tech gadgets.

Related Articles: Weighted Blankets to Gift | Tech Gadgets for Sleep

Homedics White-Noise Sound Machine

With over 29,000 five-star reviews, this sound machine is easy to use and, as such, often gets placed in kids' bedrooms. One mom bought this for her son who "couldn't sleep with his big brother's snoring" and found that "the volume control is very easy to work and can slowly adjust to barely on to clearly loud. Easy and clear one-touch button to pick sounds, too." Since it can be used with batteries or a plug, it doesn't need to be near an outlet. And according to many reviewers, it holds up well to years of regular use. "We have been using this item for five years now, and it is brilliant," one writes. The machine can produce six different soothing sounds, like ocean waves, thunder, and what's called "Summer Night" for cricket sounds; reviewers appreciate the variety. One says regardless which sound you pick, they're all deeply relaxing: "I would wake up so nice and refreshed to the rain noise or white noise or thunder, and it would be great, BUT I can't leave my bed." Even though the mornings are hard, she thinks they're worth it because this machine has turned her into a "sleeping beauty." Some people had difficulty gauging how big this device is, and one says he "was a little disappointed at the size and build" because it's much smaller than he expected. But since it still works so well, he says, "This thing has quite literally changed my life."

Magicteam Sound Machine

Over 200 five-star reviewers call out the great price of this Magicteam sound machine, including one who says, "You can't beat the price for such a well sounding versatile little unit." They write that it has an "excellent volume range as well as a nice depth of sound." Another, who calls the machine an "unbelievable value," uses it outside the bedroom, in their hallway. "Now no one hears into each other's bedrooms or the rest of the house; finally my 9 person household has regained some measure of privacy." And even a reviewer who has bought several other sound machines says the Magicteam one is "my favorite!" What stands out is the wide variety of sound options. When you use this portable sound machine, you have "a whole bunch of choices [that are] all the simple, peaceful stuff. " Plus, they say none of these have noticeable repetitions in the tracks.

Marpac Dohm Classic White-Noise Sound Machine

Long before the pandemic upended our collective ability to sleep through the night, this one-button sound machine was the only thing that helped Strategist editor Alexis Swerdloff fall asleep in an apartment with paper-thin walls. Since then, it has earned a place among our 100 all-time greatest hits and has garnered over 12,000 five-star reviews from Amazon customers — 160 of which specifically describe it as "easy" to use. "Buy it for yourself. Buy it for your sister. Buy it for a baby. Buy it for a guest room," one reviewer writes. There's no timer, so you'll have to manually turn it on and off every night and morning, but many reviewers aren't bothered by this. "I wanted the machine to be in constant 'on' mode for all night and all nap," says one. He adds that it's basically like having the white noise of a fan without the temperature changes. "There isn't any of the fancy lullaby and bubbling brook and waves crashing or anything more than just noise like a fan," he says. Another reviewer says this one is everything you could want in a noise machine: "small, portable, adjustable, powerful." She explains that it won't "drown out all noise" — so "if your upstairs neighbors are blasting rock music and riding pogo sticks, you're still going to hear it" — but this machine definitely helps. And since it's so simple to use at a good price range, it's worth the investment.

LectroFan Evo White-Noise Sound Machine

Reviewers raved about the noise-blocking abilities of the LectroFan, with one reviewer writing that the noise from their neighbors was so loud at night, "I almost considered moving out or at least switching to an upstairs unit … That is, until I happened upon this amazing little device." They continue, "This thing was absolutely perfect for me, as it only had white noise and fan sounds (and a variety of 'em!) that can get loud enough to mask anything. I mean ANYTHING. I can now peacefully snooze through not only my neighbors' stomping kitchen antics, but also the 8 A.M. garbage truck arriving bright and early every Wednesday." Reviewers praised that it has "a plethora of choices concerning volume and intensity of sound," and one said, "I call the Lectrofan my 'Little Cone of Silence.'" Another reviewer said this machine "stopped me from causing bodily harm to my neighbor," who likes to shovel gravel in the morning. They continue, "The machine somehow COMPLETELY covers the noise from the shovel, the toilet flushing next to my room, dogs barking, etc. It is incredible."

Wave Premium Sleep Therapy Sound Machine

"Much to my husband's dismay, I've had to run a box fan 365 nights of the year, because I have hot feet. This winter, I found that I don't need the fan blowing on me, but I needed the sound of the fan to fall asleep," one reviewer says, adding, "This little device has a fan sound that allows me to fall asleep with no problem with no cold air blowing around the room at night." And many other reviewers facing the same dilemma gravitate toward this sound machine, including this reviewer, who writes, "I got this because I have trouble sleeping without a fan on and then it would get to cold. This does the trick and I totally recommend. You can set it to time or just leave it running all night."

Dreamegg White-Noise Sound Machine With Ambient Night-Light

Hundreds of reviewers appreciate that this sound machine's ambient light feature isn't too bright. As one puts it, it has "the perfect level of glow"; it's "illuminating but not so bright that it prevents you from sleep," making it the only sound machine that lulls her to sleep without keeping her awake. Dozens of other customers write that this machine has helped them to sleep better, including one who says her son is "sleeping like a rock" thanks to the machine's "soft-glow night-light." In fact, over 150 other reviewers with babies and small children say this sound machine with night-light is a hit with their kids. One parent of twins says the night-light was perfect for when they were scared of the dark, and a nursing mother writes that this machine's "soft, warm glow" helps with nighttime feedings: "Turning the bedside lamp on to nurse was just too much light. I love that this machine has three different timer options, one soft light, and a multitude of sounds to fit your mood."

LectroFan High-Fidelity White-Noise Machine

"Like most others who buy sound machines, I'm a light, fan sleeper and I'm surrounded by neighborhood kids, barking puppy dogs, and crowing roosters," writes one reviewer, who calls this LectroFan white-noise machine "beyond awesome. I have absolutely no idea why the Marpac has twice as many reviews and followers on Amazon as this machine, because the LectroFan is obviously the superior machine. It is MUCH louder and FAR more extensive in range of ability." Many reviewers appreciate that it's a non-looping machine, as well. "My favorite feature is the no-looping," says one, adding, "If you have had to listen to a sound machine with a looped noise for any length of time, you will begin to hear what sounds like alien chanting, or repetitive phrases that sound rather creepy coming through a baby monitor." Another reviewer admits, "Loved it so much I bought a second for myself and my husband. It's small, simple to use, and effective — We sleep really well, and I'm used to waking up to every single noise!"

Adaptive Sound Technologies Lectrofan Micro2 Sleep Sound Machine

Though many sound machines have a bad reputation for being clunky and unattractive, customers were pleased with the compact size and pleasant design of this Adaptive Sound Technologies option. It's actually smaller than the travel-size pick and nearly 150 five-star reviewers call it "compact," including one who appreciates that "very little space is needed for it." Some customers thought that the smaller size would make it less effective, but she reports, "It totally blocks outside noise so you can get the sleep you need yet not so loud that you cannot hear the things necessary, especially with the volume control." A second reviewer agrees that yes, it "can get very loud" for its small size, but it's easy to control and it even has a timer to "turn off the machine in 60 minutes" when you're hopefully asleep. Over 300 five-star reviewers even think the size and uncomplicated design makes it perfect for travel. One says that because it's "compact, you can take it anywhere with you." And she takes it everywhere. "You can honestly just throw it in your purse and use it while you're in the car." It's connected via USB and wall plug, so you can plug the USB into your car or she suggests a computer if you tend to travel with one.

Sound+Sleep High Fidelity Sleep Sound Machine

"I was losing my mind with my loud neighbors. The stomping, the door slamming, etc. was waking me up early in the A.M. hours. I needed a sound machine to block out their noises. I finally found it," raves one reviewer of this high-fidelity sound machine from Sound+Sleep. They add, "This machine has an 'adaptive' sound feature that raises the volume of its noise when it hears other nosies. So when my jerk neighbors slam doors, it adjusts itself." This noise-canceling feature is a selling point for many other reviewers, too, like one who lives on a "very busy street," and writes, "The machine actually produces louder sounds when it detects an increased noise volume in my bedroom. So if it hears a truck rumbling by, it will raise its volume to cancel out the loud noise from the truck. Then once the truck has passed, it will lower the volume back down."

But even those who have never turned on adaptive mode like this sound machine's variety of noises: "I can adjust the volume to cancel out any noise in the neighborhood, including barking dogs and garbage trucks. It has more settings than I'll ever use but I like having the choice. Some of the settings I find better for meditation than sleep, like 'meadow,' and yes, there's even one marked meditation featuring a sitar. For sleeping, I like the 'brown noise,' 'small fan,' and 'rain' options best." They also add, "It's also nice that I can plug my phone into it via the USB port for overnight recharging."

Housbay White Noise Machine

Reviewers love the wood-grain design of this sound machine, including one who calls it "very attractive to look at." They purchased the sound machine for their boyfriend, who "usually struggles to sleep through the night." He found it "extremely easy to use" and "has noticed a big improvement" in the quality of his sleep." Multiple other reviewers also call the machine "attractive," with one writing that the "sleek, wood-like design fits in well on my bedroom nightstand." And another calls out the wood finish for how nicely "it blends with most home decor, allowing it to be used in almost any room without standing out." In addition to white-noise and fan noises, the machine is programmed with a variety of different soothing nature sounds, including ocean waves, thunderstorms, and wind. One reviewer who suffers from tinnitus used the thunderstorm sound and "slept like a baby!" They add, "The wooden look, the size, the shape, the timer, everything about this product is perfect. Don't even consider any other white noise machine!"

Anescra White Noise Machine with Night Light

This Anescra sound machine features a variety of soft, luminous colors, which you can cycle through depending on your mood. You can set it to stay on any one color, pulse on one color (fading on and off), or gently change through all the colors," explains one reviewer. They conclude, "This is a really nice sound machine." Another reviewer chose this model specifically for its ability to change colors, since they say different colors of light affect your sleep in different ways. "The red light helps with sleep, blue helps you wake up." They struggle with an autoimmune disorder that has damaged their ears, so they also appreciated that the machine's "volume adjustments are perfect for picking the right level my ears can handle." Though the rainbow shades may seem distracting, a third reviewer assures that you can "sleep with it comfortably … it is not bright and does not hurt my eyes but [it is] enough for me to see the surroundings." Their favorite colors are the regular white light, which they use "when all the other lights are turned off," and the "orange-red sunrise light."

Reacher Dual Alarm Clock and White Noise Machine

This two-in-one Reacher alarm clock and noise machine is designed to help reviewers fall asleep and wake up — and fulfills both functions with aplomb. "This is exactly what I was hoping it would be," says one reviewer who "wanted an alarm clock with white noise to help me sleep and keep me from reaching for my phone first thing every morning." They love that it's a "nice compact size," that the display "can be dimmed all the way down to nothing if the light bothers you," and that different "volumes can be set for alarms and white noise." Another reviewer who had a very difficult time finding a machine that fit their exacting standards — "big numbers on clock, soothing color (no more blaring red), no glaring numbers all night, white noise and/or nature sounds for sleep, must have capability of running white noises ALL night, compact, electric" — finally "FOUND IT!" with this one. They write that the "nature sounds are great, I ended up choosing pink noise and switch off with ocean and rain" and that the setup was "easy peasy, took me 4 minutes … perfect clock." And a third reviewer who declares, "I. Love. This. Clock." writes that they needed something loud enough "to block out the excess noise" in their apartment and that this "little thing give[s] some big sound." They add that the "dual alarms are always a plus as well. All in all, great product!"

myBaby SoundSpa White Noise Machine

Reviewers loved the versatility of this sound machine which can run on batteries or be plugged into a wall. "We like having it on all night for our family, which would kill batteries on the travel version," wrote one reviewer, who had previously had a batteries-only version. Reviewers were also pleased with the variety of sounds to choose from: "Had the heartbeat sound both our children loved when they were newborns," one reviewer wrote. Another preferred the machine's lullaby music, but noted that the volume "gets loud enough to drown out the loud stomping sounds of our upstairs neighbors" and allows their child to sleep.

VTech Myla the Monkey Sleep Soother With a White-Noise Sound Machine

This cute monkey-shaped soother has a hook so it can be hung from a stroller or crib, and its cheeks glow for a subtle nightlight effect. "By far the coolest part of this is the downloadable app that allows you to select and program what you want from the preloaded songs, sounds, and stories, and put them in any order you want. I like that you can choose as little or as much of the preloaded items as you want," one reviewer writes. The app also allows you to record your own stories or messages. One reviewer writes, "I can't wait for grandparents to come so they can record their own stories for her! I may have to purchase another for our 3-year-old son because he is getting quite attached to his big sister's!" Another reviewer used it to keep their older toddler in bed: "I recorded 'Don't come into mommy and daddy's bed at night. Stay in your own room, PLEASE!'"

Hatch Baby Rest Night Light, Sound Machine and Time-to-Rise

"Are you an anal retentive mother like me? Then boy, do I have the product for you," starts one reviewer when writing of this Hatch Baby nightlight/sound machine. "I spent a lot of time researching sound machines and initially purchased this for our newborn. It worked great for nighttime feedings as you can adjust the light brightness from your phone. Have a big blowout that occurred at 2 A.M.? Fear not. This light will get you through that changing without having to wake the baby with bright overhead lights." Plus, this sound machine also acts as an okay-to-wake light, a feature lauded by dozens of reviewers, including one who writes, "I was a bit hesitant to buy a $60 night light and sound machine — but this product really turned out to be worth every penny. Our 2 year old was waking at 4:45 every morning and after telling him it wasn't time to get up … Now I can set a okay-to-wake light, and it comes on each morning to let him know he can get up." Plus, the sound machine itself helps lots of kids fall, and stay, asleep. One parent writes, "I don't know what wizard made this thing, but I went from swaddling a six-month-old baby to being able to put her down in a sleep sack and she'll sleep for an hour/hour and a half, no problem. She also went from waking every two hours to sleeping at least 4 to 5 without a night feed." Their review concludes, "It's saved my sanity and allowed me to finally get some sleep. 100 percent recommend."

HoMedics MyBaby SoundSpa Lullaby, Image Projector

Dozens of parents appreciate this sound machine for its image projector. "It has been a life saver for us," writes one. "When we were sleep training we were able to use the projections to keep baby from screaming in the crib." Another, who loves the three themed projections and that it stays on all night, says it "helps my son drift off to sleep and helped him wean from breastfeeding." Plus, they add that it's also a good sound machine. "[Its] volume control is great and the [sound] options are plentiful." And a third parent with an 8-month-old baby has "been using this since day 1 to help her sleep." They write, "It's perfect. Gives off enough light to see but not too much on the projections. The sound is loud enough and the music options are perfect."

Marpac Rohm White Noise Sound Machine, Portable

This portable sound machine is a top pick for those who need a white-noise machine when they travel, like one who writes, "Size is great, especially if you want to take it on your travels. Great features and ability to set a timer. Bought on recommendation of friend who travels internationally often and uses on trips and at home." Another reviewer and her husband like this sound machine so much, they brought it to the great outdoors: "My husband and I have gone camping with this machine on many occasions for several days at a time. The description says it holds a charge for up to 12 hours, but we have used it for at least two nights at a time (16+ hours) without needing to recharge it. It's also portable and light weight so it is really easy to take anywhere with us."

MyBaby SoundSpa On-The-Go-Portable White Noise Machine

This battery-powered, lightweight white noise machine can easily be thrown into a bag to get fussy babies to drop off whenever, wherever. "My son sleeps with an expensive white noise machine every night. For travel, I wanted something small and lightweight and also cheap so if something happened I wouldn't be upset," writes one reviewer. "I used it for 3 nights, about 11 hrs each night, and it did not run out of juice. Highly recommend for a back up travel noise machine or for something on the go." The machine comes with a convenient clip-on hanger so it can be attached onto "strollers, carseat, the crib, you can hang it on a command strip hook, you name it. It makes it versatile so that it's easy to find a convenient place to put it," according to another reviewer. In fact, the machine is so effective that it's even replaced a third reviewer's regular sound machine that "needs to be plugged into the wall. This one is perfect — size, sound, and ease of use. The clip is handy and allows us to hang it nearby in the car, pack and play, or crib … thanks to this machine we're getting sleep again!"

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The Best Sound Machines on Amazon, According to Reviewers